Expendable humidifier tray

ABSTRACT

This invention is directed to humidifiers of commercial manufacture which are placed in the plenum chamber of a warm air furnace, with the emphasis on the quick and easy removal of the evaporator pan when it becomes caked with mineral deposits which result from the evaporation of water, without benefit of removal or total disassembly of the humidifier from the furnace.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Lawrence W. Hamilton 1479 SchaferDrive, Flint, Mich. 48506 [21] Appl. No. 780,384 [22] Filed Dec. 2, 1968[45] Patented Feb. 23, 1971 [54] EXPENDABLE l-lUMlDlFlER TRAY 2 Claims,4 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.C| 126/113 [51] Int. Cl F2413/14 [50] Field ofSearch 126/113[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,588,567 3/1952 Perlman126/113X 2,654,362 10/1953 Scharf 126/113 2,845,944 8/1958 Bock,.lr.126/1 13X 3,453,414 7/1969 Levy 126/113X Primary Examiner-Charles J.Myhre Attorney-Robert H. Elliott pmamm zsmn 3.665.053

INVENTOR.

BY Laws/v05 U/ Min/U41 EXPENDABLE HUMIDIFIER TRAY It is therefore aprimary object of the present invention to provide a disposablehumidifier tray or pan which generally conforms to the configuration ofthe structure now employed that minimizes the now existant problem ofcleaning.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a throwawayhumidifier tray which is durable and relatively inexpensive tomanufacture. p

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a humidifiertray which is free standing with an integral flange thereon forcooperation with the pan support means.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a laminatedhumidifier tray, wherein the upper or topmost tray is torn off anddiscarded each time mineral deposits effect the efficiency of thehumidifier unit.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of ahumidified residence, wherein the humidifier service can be maintainedby the home owner 'or other unskilled help, thus reducing the overallcost of operation and maintenance.

The above and other objects of this invention can be accomplished by theprovision of a commercial humidifier having a controlled level watersupply for the evaporator pan which is separate and removable from thehumidifier assembly proper that provides the support frame means for thesaid humidifier evaporator pan, the frame support means may be pivotalif consistent with the design of the particular humidifier used, howeverthe support means need not be a frame, but could of course be a pan ofpredetermined configuration and into which the humidifier evaporatorliner would be placed and when sufficient mineral deposits accumulate,the liner or other removable tray is merely removed and discarded andreplaced with another of similar kind in a minimum of time and at amodest expense.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following descriptionand appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawingswhich form a part of this specification, wherein like referencecharacters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates a side elevationof a commercialhumidifier which embodies the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view ofthe structure'shown in FIG. 1 ofthe drawings.

FIG. 3 shows a free standing laminated evaporator pan.

FIG. 4 teaches the use of inexpensive throwaway fittings Looking now atthe drawings,specifically FIG. 1, it will be observed that a humidifierassembly has been installed in the plenum chamber P of a warm airfurnace. This assembly consists of a water valve 14' having a watersupply 12. The water valve being actuated by the pivotal displacement ofthe evaporator pan 16 which is supported in the pivotal frame member 18that circumscribes the evaporator pan 16. The

liquid level in the evaporator pan can however be controlled in manyways, as for example as illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos.

5 2,565,210 issued to N. .l. Dovilis, Aug. 21, 1951, the U.S. Pat.

No. 2,654,362 to Scharf, dated Oct. 6, I953, or U.S. Pat. No.

3,087,485 to M.A. Powers dated Apr. 30, I963, or any number of others,without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

It will be readily apparent that when a disposable pan or tray ispositioned within the confines of the frame 18 that it can be rapidlyremoved and replaced withanother pan or tray of a like variety in aminimum of time and lit le or no effort without getting dirty. This isnot possible to accomplish today, since for the most part the evaporatortray is integral with the humidifier assembly and can only be cleaned byremoval of the complete unit from the furnace. Thus a dirty, timeconsuming and unpleasant job results, the postponement of which resultsin a health hazard, as well'as the rapid deterioration of the furniturewithin the heated home. Thus the advantages of a free standing orsupported evaporator pan are self evident.

The support frame 18 may be of any desired design or crosssectionalconfiguration, such as a vertically disposed rectangular member, or aflanged member of generally L-shaped configuration as illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2 respectively. The flange 22 on the evaporator pancooperates with the flange on the support member to prevent the pan fromdropping through.

FIG. 3 of the drawings illustrates a nested and laminated evaporator panconstruction similar to that shown in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2,however, with this construction, it is only necessary to remove thetopmost layer of the laminate to effect a cleaning of the humidifierpan. In this embodiment, four laminates A,B,C and ,D are deposited inthe support pan SP.

In FIG. 4 of the drawings, a single free standing pan is illustrated,wherein fittings 32 are secured thereto so that the water ingress can beaccomplished below the maintained water level in the evaporator pan.These of course could be made of plastic and fitted with O-rings toprevent leaks.

Iclaim:

1. In a commercially available humidifier having a controlled levelwater supply, the combination of:

a removable free standing evaporator pan having a flange thereon;

support means circumscribing said evaporator pan and cooperable withsaid removable evaporator pan and flange thereon; and said cooperablesupport means maintaining said evaporator pan in the proper position tocontrol the water level therein. 2. In a commercially availablehumidifier having a controlled level water supply, the combination of:

a removable evaporator pan having a flange thereon; support means in theform of an endless ring which circumscribes the said flanged evaporatorpan and engages same; and said cooperable support means are pivotal andseparate from said evaporator pan, while maintaining said evaporator panin the proper position to control the water level therein.

1. In a commercially available humidifier having a controlled levelwater supply, the combination of: a removable free standing evaporatorpan having a flange thereon; support means circumscribing saidevaporator pan and cooperable with said removable evaporator pan andflange thereon; and said cooperable support means maintaining saidevaporator pan in the proper position to control the water leveltherein.
 2. In a commercially available humidifier having a controlledlevel water supply, the combination of: a removable evaporator panhaving a flange thereon; support means in the form of an endless ringwhich circumscribes the said flanged evaporator pan and engages same;and said cooperable support means are pivotal and separate from saidevaporator pan, while maintaining said evaporator pan in the properposition to control the water level therein.